Rack for the support of the human body



L. R. CAMETO RACK FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE HUMAN BODY March 9, 1954 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1959 INVENTOR.

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March 9, 1954 L. R. CAMETO 2,671,442

RACK FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE HUMAN BODY Filed June 6, 1950 I 4Sheets-Sheet 2 llll III I lllllll llll UIIIIIJAZIIIIIIIIIIIIIJIYIII/ IFIG. .9 92 ATTORNEY L. R. CAMETO RACK FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE HUMAN BbDY4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 9, 1954 Filed June 6, 1950IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII -r 11 I III FIG.2

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38 32 IO 8 l6 u' umninl m 1min ,5 46 42 2.6 42 g IN V EN TOR.

3c- 3b v 2 3 LEON ROBERT GAMETO ATTORNEY March 9, 1954 L. R. CAMETO2,671,442

RACK FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE 'HUMAN BODY Filed June 6, 1950 4Sheets-Sheet.4

FIG.

LEON ROBERT OAMETO INVENTOR A T TOR/VE Y Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE RACK FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE HUMAN BODY 12 Claims.

This invention is a rack for supporting the human body in a relativelyrestrained posture such that, for example, proper drainage for therespiratory tract is insured with comparative ease to the patient. Therack is also employed to confine the body, such as that of an infantimmediately after birth, in a safe position and/ or in a positionwherein it maybe operated on.

Treatments of certain human ailments include the inhalation by a patientof a medicated atmosphere designed to loosen infectious matter from thelungs and passages leading thereto. The apparatus here describedfacilitates this treatment by so positioning the body of the patientthat the matter loosened by the medication promptly drains off under theinfluence of gravity and therefore normal respiration is allowed tocontinue as the condition of the patient is improved.

Another noteworthy field of use of this apparatus lies in the area ofpediatrics. For example; the natural birth of a human infant often isaccompanied by impairment of the infants respiration. The apparatus is,in such case, employed to facilitate respiration in the infant at birth,particularly when the passages to the lungs have become clogged andrequire release of accumulated and often somewhat dried mucous. In othercases it is frequently true that a physician is r alone in theattendance upon a mother in the delivery of her infant. The mother oftenrequires the physicians full attention immediately after delivery of theinfant. The infant is simply deposited on the tray which retains itsafely pending completion of attendance by the physician to the needs ofthe mother.

The rack is also found useful as an operating table, particularly forinfants because their bodies are not accommodated by the adult operatingtable.

The several features of advantage will in part be pointed out and inpart be evident from a consideration of the following specification andaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rack, with an infant patientillustrated to be supported there- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of amodified rack, as from plane 22 of Fig. 3; r

Fig. 3 represents at the right and left respectively of its vertical midplane, a section at plane 3a,3a and one at plane 3b-3b of Fig. 2;

t Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of structural deails;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a modification; and

Figs. 6 through 13 illustrate a further modification.

The rack of Fig. 1 is formed, as by casting of metal such as aluminum,to provide a bottom 8 having an upwardly disposed continuous generallyflat surface area In for supporting the back and legs of a patient in agenerally straight extended position on the corresponding parts thereoffrom which there project substantially perpendicularly to the surfaceand to the direction of its elongation from the back supporting part tothe leg supporting parts shoulder barriers l2 adjoining and forming withthe terminal portion of area ID, a neck passage IA. The back supportingarea is suitably shaped on its sides to provide curved surfaces "5joining the back and shoulder barriers to approximately parallel sidewalls [8 patient and are of such height as to permit the wrapping of thesupport with a retaining band of fabric, not shown, to hold the patientsecurely within the support without excessive pressure on area It toprovide a relatively depressed area 20 "Qwhich is intended to receivethe buttocks of the patient. As is evident in Fig. 1, this depressiontends to cause the buttocks to accept part of the pressed area thesupporting area is extended and terminates approximately in the plane ofthe area H] at a point suihciently removed to support the ,patients legsand feet as shown in Fig. 1.

Adjacent the neck passage l4 and shoulder barriers l2, the supportprovides at the region in extension of the surface area It and at theopposite sides of the barrier plates from the area .110 a head rest 22of cup shape, the bottom 24 of which is downset from the back area ID byan abruptly offsetting wall portion 26 extending from the neck passage[4 oppositely to the barriers I2.

The neck passage I4 is partially formed by the adjoining edges of thebarrier plates I2 and by a portion extending from bottom 8 with itsupper surface in extension of or substantially tangent to the surfaceill of the back supporting part 8.

With the aid of fabric pads placed in the cup which are spaced apart toadjoin the arms of the bottom 24, the patients head is adjusted relativeto the back so that the optimum alignment of the portions of therespiratory tract in the head and body is obtained. Two laterallyprojecting feet 28 formed on the head rest, and a suitable hook 30 atthe foot of the support in the Fig. 1 arrangement, serve for positioningthe support with the patient in a desired inclined gravitally stableposition While the patient receives treatment, for example, in an oxygentent.

In the modification of Figs. 2, 3 and 4, provision is made particularlyfor very small infants such as premature babies whose shoulders varywidely in width from patient to patient. The back supporting area I0,adjoining theneck passage I4 and the barriers I2, is provided with.

transverse slots 32 through which there are disposed adjustable shoulderbarriers 34 which lap an adjustable portion of the neck passage area I 4and-portions of fixed barriers-I2. These adjust able barriers includebase portions 36 sliding on-- the oifset-wall26 adjacent slots 32 andsupported lug 38 integral with bases 36 which are threaded The lugto thefunctionof. inclined positioning. the device of Figs; 2, 3 and 4includes a pair of-legs 40and- 50--which are pivoted by a pin52 havingits axisbelow and parallel tothe back area- I0 positioned ina quadrantlug 54 secured-to'the support 0 by a base piece 56.- The quadrant lug 54provides a slot 58arcuate upon pin-52. The legs 48 and' 50:provide holes60- for bolt-62 to extend through-them-and slot 58' and havinghead 64engagingarm '48. A wing nut- 66-.serveswith the bolt. 62= and head- 64to-clamp arms=48 and 50- at any of several angular positions asdetermined byv-the length of the arc of slot 58.. The legs 4efand-50 aredivergent as shown in Fig. :4 toincrease'the stability of. the supportagainst tilting.

It is preferable in the delivery roomof a hospital toravoid the use ofdevices which require sterilization. for any length oftime;and-particularly' the-'pads'referredto for the-cup 22.- "Ihewmodification-ofFigr5 makes it possible to adjust therheadeuprapidly tothe needs of an infantandveli'minates problems". of sterilization sincepaddingifor; the-purpose of. elevating the head to:the requiredxpositionis unnecessary withthe Fig.5: 5 provisions; TThB" head" cup. is shownadjustable with respect to the backportion I0, beinst-carried? on. arml0.pivoted' on' pivotc52 and extendingto :clear thershoulder adjustmentmech I anismiofrFigs. 2, 3 and .4. Arm .70 carries a shaft 12.iournalled: therein through which an. adjustingcscrewi'llhaving knob I6is threaded. Screw I4 is universally anchored by its integral ball 18'received: a socket formed' bya plate 80 se curedtobase 56:'and a recess82 in base 86.- The arm10'works :through a slot formedin the web portion21 which corresponds to the wall 26 in Fig.

3. :-In:zthemodification of Figs. 6 throng-hi3 several additionalradvantagespver those of :the: previously described modifications .are.obtained. 1 Fort-example; it 'is constructedtwith a separable" body trayportion I8 and supports trays of different sizes which areinterchangeably mounted on a common base or carriage. Similarly to themodification of Fig. 5, the head tray 24 is constructed forinterchangeability. The construction affords independent adjustabilityof inclination of the body tray and the position of the head rest; andthe body tray may be adjusted without substantial changein the positionof'the head.

The device of Figs. 6 through 13 comprises a base having a fiat topsurface 92 for the reception thereagainst of the flat bottom of theback. portion I0, ,of the body tray I8. The base 90 inc1udes' a pivotand clamp portion having a pair of depending brackets 94 joined by abracingwebfltiThe'base 90 further provides a portion 91 supportingadjustable shoulder barriers, including therefor a depending verticalweb 98 having a flat forward face I00 about perpendicular to the topsurface 92 and intended for registry with a forward edge I02 of the bodytray. The portion 91 is of a length about equal to the width of tray I8.holes I04 for. registry with. corresponding holes I04. in the portion I0of the tray and fastening of the base and tray together by suitablebolts. The portion 9'! of the basefurther provides lugs 42 for pivotallysupporting a shoulder bracket adjusting shaft 40'. The web 98 providesfiat vertical bearing surfaces I06 against which the flat forwardsurfaces .of the bases 36' of shoulder barriers. 34' bear in a fashionsimilar to that shown in Fig.. 2. The base 90. is provided with slotsI08 for the accommodation of the barriers 34. The back portion of trayI0 is provided with slots. .I I0 for the registry with slots I08 andpassage of the barriers.

Headrest 24is provided with a pair of arms I0 of considerable lengthdisposed between, and on a clamping bolt. IIZ forming a pivot therefor,which bolt bears in holes H4 in brackets 54. Notches III; are providedin web 08 to allow upwardmovement of the arms 10.

The position of the head rest pivot I2 is chosen at a point adjacent theback I0, and so remote from edge I02 that'very little gap exists betweenthe headrest 24" and the forward edge I02 of tray I8 in any position ofadjustment of the head rest about pivot 2.. A shaft I2 pivoted betweenarms 10' has a headed adjusting screw, similar to 14 in Fig. 5, threadedthrough hole I8 and swivelly anchored in a notch I20 in base 90.

A pair of legs 48' and 50', having their foot ends rigidlyjoined by. arod 122, and having flat opposed brake quadrant portions I24 spaced toengage the flat parallel outside faces lie of brackets 94, are pivotedon a common axis parallel to boIt:I I2 at I28ion brackets 94. -Thequadrantportions.areprovided with slots I30 arcuate on pivots I28"and ofsize and radius to receive bolt II2 therethrough. The head I32 of thebolt and a clamping disc- Hi4 serve to-clamp the quadrant portions ofthe legsagainst brackets 94 in any of a; wide "range of positions.- r

I claim:

1. A rigid support for the human body comprising, in combination: asingle integrally formed rigid member including an elongated portionproviding for an upwardly disposed continuous generally fiat surfacearea providing a buttocksreceiving recess and constituting a backsupporting surface part and a surface part for receiving and-supportingthe remainder of the body with the'entirebody'in a generally straightextended position; said member further provid-.

ing shoulder barrier plates at one end of the elon- The base 90 isprovided with three gated area and extending substantiallyperpendicularly to the direction of elongation of said platelikeportion, said back supporting surface part and said barriers beingconstructed and arranged to provide a neck passage through and betweenthe barriers and substantially tangent to said back supporting surfacepart, said member further providing a pair of parallel sidewallsextending perpendicularly to and from the back supporting part of thecontinuous surface substantially parallel to the direction of elongationfrom points adjoining the shoulder barriers.

2. A rigid support for the human body comprising, in combination: asingle integrally formed rigid member including an elongated portionproviding for an upwardly disposed continuous generally flat surfacearea providing a buttocks receiving recess and constituting a,supporting surface part for the back of the body and a surface part forreceiving and supporting the remainder of the body with the entire bodyin a generally straight extended position; means providing shoulderbarriers having inner and outer ends at one end of the elongated portionextending away from the surface and having shoulder engaging surfacesdisposed along planes substantially perpendicular to the surface and tothe direction of elongation, said back supporting surface part and. saidbarriers being constructed and arranged to provide a narrow neck passagethrough and between the barriers and in extension of the back supportingsurface part, and means providing a pair of sidewalls extending awayfrom the elongated portion and in the direction of elongation fromregions adjoining the outer ends of the shoulder barriers,

3. As claim 2 and means secured on said rigid member providing a headrest surface area adjoining the neck passage at the opposite end of saidneck passage at the region in extension of said surface area.

4. As claim 3 and means fixed on said member and on said head rest meansdefining sup- 6 ports for positioning the member, with the human bodyresting thereon, in a gravitally stable position.

5. As claim 4, said combination being formed as a continuously integralbody of metal.

6. As claim 4, said combination including means for adjusting and fixingthe positioning means with respect to the rigid member.

7. As claim 3, and means for adjusting the head rest means to provideseveral positions of the head rest area offset from the adjoining backrest area.

8. As claim 7, and said combination including an arm rigidly secured tothe head rest, and means pivotally mounting the arm on the rigid memberfor rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the flat surfacearea and substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation ofthe flat surface area, said axis being disposed in a region adjoiningthe surface area between the ends of the rigid member.

9. As claim 3 and means constituting integral parts of said member andsaid head rest means defining leg supports for positioning the member,with the human body resting thereon against said barriers and sidewalls,in a stable position.

10. As claim 3, said combination being formed as a continuously integralbody of metal.

11. As claim 2, said combination being formed as a continuously integralbody of metal.

12. As claim 2, and means for adjusting the shoulder barriersconstructed and arranged for varying the width of the neck passage.

LEON ROBERT CAMETO.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,710,475 Gallowitz Apr. 23, 1929 1,848,212 Waterman Mar. 8,1932 1,903,536 Skinner Apr. 11, 1933

